Three times is a charm –This is certainly true of recent construction projects by biogas all-rounder EnviTec Biogas AG in China. “As well as excellent progress at our fully planned eighth plant in Tunliu district, the sixth and seventh projects, in Lankao and Qinxian, have both completed their commissioning stages,” comments EnviTec Project Manager Andreas Bosse. To do this, both plants had to be started and then, for the first time in the company’s history, EnviTec Biogas completed the commissioning via remote access and video conference calls. “On site, a qualified electrician completed all the necessary adjustments and fine-tuning work whilst we watched via a live stream,” Bosse explains. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the need to complete the commissioning process had to be supported and completed remotely. Although EnviTec’s teams have used remote access for many years as part of our standard service support, this was a first for completion and handover. Everything worked out fine, largely thanks to the help and support from the local Chinese team.
While the Qinxian plant is still in start-up mode the four digesters in the biogas plant already produce enough biogas to run the EnviThan gas upgrading unit. Once the plant reaches full capacity, it will produce around 37,000 Nm³ of biogas every day. The plant also features a specialised feed-in system that achieves a higher level of throughput even with dry substrates such as corn stover, an agricultural waste. The biomethane produced is to be used as bio CNG in the fuel sector. It is piped directly to an adjacent service station, where the very first fuelling has now been completed. It can also be shipped via tanker trailers to nearby filling stations.
Again, despite the ongoing pandemic, the eighth project, in Tunliu district, Shanxi province, is making great strides towards its planned commissioning date in June 2022. Detailed planning completed in October 2021 for this biogas plant, which has a rated daily output of 37,000 Nm³ and includes an integrated gas upgrading system. All of the necessary construction materials have now arrived at the site.
“Once the first construction phase is finished, we will need to bide our time until the ground has thawed out and the Chinese New Year celebrations are complete,” Bosse explains. Even with this small set back he expects to see the building and feed-in systems to be completed and set up by March. The input materials for the biogas plant’s four digesters will be dry poultry manure, turkey litter and agricultural waste in the form of corn stover. Two mixing tanks will be used to homogenise the substrate and remove sediment from the poultry manure. Together with the partner firms, HUESKER Synthetic GmbH handling the roof construction and SCHULZ Systemtechnik GmbH the technical systems, the various construction phases are being closely supervised on site. Bosse: “We expect to be able to start the installation of the pre-fabricated EnviThan unit from mid-March.”
As in Qinxian and Lankao, the biomethane produced by our EnviThan gas upgrading will be used as bio CNG in the fuel sector via a filling station being constructed on the same site.
China’s large agricultural sector, combined with its ambitious plan, as the world’s largest emitter of CO2, to become more environmentally friendly, offers enormous potential for the renewable energy and technologies sector. EnviTec maintains a local branch office in China with a team of ten employees who handle sales and project management. “It is this team, including our customers and the companies working on our projects, who we have to thank for the superb cooperation in these extraordinary times,” says Hartmut Bergs, Construction Supervisor for the three projects in China. “Despite planning difficulties due to COVID, project work has been characterised by mutual support and a solution-focused attitude from the outset,” comments customer Mr. Mu Zhijian from plant Qinxian.
About EnviTec Biogas AG
EnviTec Biogas AG covers the entire value chain for the production of biogas, including the planning and turnkey construction of biogas plants and biogas upgrading plants as well as their commissioning. The company takes charge of biological and technical services on demand, and also offers operational management services. EnviTec operates 75 of its own plants, making it one of the largest biogas producers in Germany. EnviTec’s business interests also include the direct marketing of upgraded biomethane as well as the marketing of electricity and balancing energy. The company is represented in 16 countries worldwide by its own companies, sales offices, strategic partners and joint ventures. In 2020, the EnviTec Group generated revenue of EUR 192.3 million and EBIT of EUR 17.2 million. The Group employs over 500 people worldwide. EnviTec Biogas AG has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since July 2007.